Thousands gather for full day of programming at The Hospitality Show

THE INAUGURAL HOSPITALITY SHOW, held at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, began its first full day of programming, with thousands of attendees and more than 300 exhibitors showcasing advancements and hospitality solutions. Organized jointly by the American Hotel & Lodging Association and Questex, this operations and technology event is focused on hotel operations and profitability through enhanced efficiency.

The Show's keynote speaker, Kat Cole, COO and president of Athletic Greens, led the official inauguration ceremony. Joining her were AHLA president and CEO Chip Rogers, Questex Group president of Hospitality, Travel, and Wellness Alexi Khajavi, Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus, and The Show's advisory board members.

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Prior to the ceremony, Cole took the main stage to deliver her keynote address on leadership and innovation drawn from her extensive career experience. Following her remarks, Cole engaged in a one-on-one conversation with Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, centering on the importance of fostering robust franchisee/franchisor relationships.

The event placed special emphasis on anti-trafficking efforts, featuring a dedicated session where Catherine Chen, CEO of Polaris, and Anthony Capuano, president and CEO of Marriott International, delved into the evolution of the hotel industry's initiatives and communication surrounding this critical issue. Further, Mark Hoplamazian, president and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, joined Steve Hill, CEO and president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, to discuss the drivers behind travel decisions for leisure and business travelers.

Here’s the full list of The Show speakers and programming.

Honoring industry leaders

AHLA announced its 2023 General Managers of the Year, TechOvation, and Technology Acceleration Award winners during presentations at The Hospitality Show at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas.

AHLA also hosted the General Managers Summit at The Hospitality Show, offering a platform for attendees to connect with fellow general managers, gain insights from industry leaders on pertinent challenges faced by general managers and honor the AHLA's 2023 General Managers of the Year in an awards ceremony.

The recipients of the 2023 General Managers of the Year awards are:

• Harold Daniels, Travelodge by Wyndham Memphis - AHLA General Manager of the Year (Select Service)
• Katie Ward, Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Airport - AHLA General Manager of the Year (Full Service)
• Brian Kramer, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa - AHLA General Manager of the Year (Resort Property)
• Chris Sommers, Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa - AHLA General Manager of the Year (Independent Property)
• Michelle Davis, Spring Hill Suites by Marriott Orange Beach - AHLA General Manager of the Year (Extended Stay Property)
• Michael Smith, Hyatt Regency New Orleans - AHLA General Manager Lifetime Achievement Award

And the winner is…

Each year, the AHLA Technology Acceleration Award will recognize companies that have taken specific steps to advance innovation in hospitality. This year, the award showcased companies that have adopted HTNG Express, a new solution that shortens the process for post-booking hotel property management system integrations from months to just days.

At the Spotlight Stage, HTNG, AHLA's technology committee, hosted the TechOvation Awards, honoring 10 semi-finalists for their innovations in hospitality technology. Among the finalists, PolyAI's Guest-Led Voice Assistant emerged as the winner during the live awards ceremony. PolyAI uses conversational AI to comprehensively understand various voices, swiftly and accurately addressing common inquiries at the front desk and contact centers.

During the TechOvation ceremony, AHLA and HTNG announced the recipients of the Technology Acceleration Award, honoring companies that are driving innovation in hospitality technology.

The winners include:

•  Actabl
• Agilysys
• Belmond
• BOUNTE, INC.
• BlulP
• Clairvoyix
• Directful
• Hapi
• InstioExperiences, Pvt Ltd
• iOpenInnovations
• Logistics
• Phonesuite
• TigerTMS
• TipQwik
• Visual Matrix

“These esteemed winners represent some of hospitality’s brightest stars and most innovative companies,” AHLA’s Rogers said. “The Hospitality Show provides an ideal forum in which to recognize the individuals and organizations who embody excellence in hospitality service and ingenuity. We look forward to recognizing America’s top hotel GMs and technology innovators again next year at The Hospitality Show 2024 in San Antonio.”

Next year, AHLA’s General Manager of the Year, TechOvation, and Technology Acceleration Award winners will be announced at The Hospitality Show 2024, which will be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, through Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.

Those interested in next year’s event can complete this form.

Inside tours 

Over the past two days, The Show attendees were given behind-the-scenes tours of two Las Vegas properties: The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and The Bellagio Resort & Casino. These immersive tours provided insights into the properties' operations, sustainability initiatives, culinary experiences, luxurious rooms and suites, and the iconic Bellagio Fountains.

Last night, attendees enjoyed a thrilling secret-agent themed reception at TAO Asian Bistro & Nightclub, sponsored by DIRECTV HOSPITALITY. The event was filled with exciting Las Vegas-style games, cigar-rolling, signature cocktails, delectable food, networking opportunities, and much more.

The Show continues on Thursday, June 29, with another exciting day of programming, networking, and expo floor exploration.